Thank you for reading our special, extra edition of empowerNOTES! We are too excited to share with you our newest project to wait until the next edition in March.
A message from our
Director of Programs and Community Outreach
Thank you for reading our special, extra edition of empowerNOTES! We are too excited to share with you our newest project to wait until the next edition in March. YWCA NH has been working with the City of Manchester and other key community partners to open the Brook Street Women’s Shelter. We are hoping to fill some of the gap in housing women experiencing chronic homelessness in our community with this new program. For now, due to funding restraints, this is a pop-up shelter—although we are hoping with continued support and funding from our community, we can make it permanent.
In service & gratitude,
Katie Parent
Director of Programs and Community Outreach
This program will serve some of the most vulnerable, unhoused women in our community, and our goal is to create a safe, trauma-informed space for them to begin to move forward. YWCA NH has a history of bold advocacy and support for vulnerable women, and this project is very much aligned with our mission of eliminating racism and empowering women.

It takes a community to lift up a project like this, and we hope to engage as many supporters as we can in different ways. See below for opportunities to engage and find one that works for you!

Thank you for being with us on this journey—we hope you can join us in some way to help ensure the Brook Street Women’s Shelter project can support unhoused women as meaningfully as possible.
What is Brook Street Women’s Shelter?
Brook Street Women's Shelter is a newly opening shelter for women who are experiencing chronic homelessness operated by YWCA New Hampshire. There has been a shortage of bed spaces available to women in our community, and we hope this program will help start to fill that gap.
Brook Street Women's Shelter will house up to 16 women at a time, providing a safe space to live while they engage in case management and trauma-informed programming targeted at addressing the issues that are causing the chronic homelessness and tools to help break the cycle.  
Donations Needed!
To make this project possible We are in need of lots of daily household and personal care items.

For donation inquires and coordination, you can email Katie at katiep@ywcanh.org


  • Disposable dinner ware (plates, bowls, cups, utensils, napkins, etc.) 
  • New towels (bath, hand, face, kitchen) 
  • Paper Towels 
  • Toilet Paper 
  • Laundry Detergent 
  • Cleaning supplies 
  • Shower curtains & liners 
  • New twin size bedding (blankets, sheets, comforters, pillows, pillow cases) 
  • Hygiene items (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, deodorant, combs, razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shower caddies, etc.) 
  • Feminine hygiene products 
  • New basic clothing in variety of sizes (adult women), including socks, underwear, sports bras, sneakers, shower shoes, sweatpants/leggings, t-shirts, sweaters, etc. 
  • Games, books, hobby items 
  • Bottled water, snacks 
  • Phone chargers 
Financial Donation
Every donation, no matter what amount, helps and is valued and appreciated!! Please consider a gift to enable us to serve and support those who desperately need help!
or Venmo @YWCANH
Service Project Opportunities
We are in need of groups to come support our space readiness! We have projects that need some person power before our projected open on 2/6 (still tentative!), including:

  • Organize a donation drive
  • Painting
  • Cleaning
  • Organization of space/rooms
  • Donation Organization

Reach out to Katie at katiep@ywcanh.org for more information or to set up a project!
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities

If you are interested in volunteering at the Brook Street Women’s Shelter on an ongoing basis once we are up and running, you can apply via our website here: https://ywcanh.org/career-volunteer-opportunities/

Tasks might include:
  • Cleaning/organizing donations/items around shelter
  • Client support
  • Hosting client programs (yoga, arts & crafts, movie nights, etc.)
  • And more!

We will begin responding to these inquiries mid- to late-February once we have capacity to train and on-board volunteers at this location!
Staffing
We are actively recruiting for staffing support for the Brook Street Women’s Shelter. Positions are part-time or per diem, all shifts available (daytime, evening, overnight).

If interested, apply on Indeed or by sending your resume and cover letter to info@ywcanh.org

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